Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-09-07
THE ERIE CANAL.
Floating Homes of ths People Who MIKE
Thelr Living Upon IL

Floating Homes OF ths People Who MIKE
Thelr Living Upon IL
The rosiest side of human existance Is
not generally supposed to be found on
board canal-boat, SAYS the New York
Herald. Ever since canals were feature
of Uncle Sans big republic have those
who lived on their borders been carica-
tured In the papers AMI abused by the
press. The popular belief has always
been that they are, if not the ofrscouring
of the earth, at least but one grade bet.
ter. Recently n reporter talked with
some Of the people of the canal-boat
Mary and learned something of their
mode Of living. That the lives OF these
people are not of the pIeasantsst, but
that out of canal-boats come some Of the
best citizens and most earnest and intelli-
gent people of both sexes was amply
proven 20 the reporter, who viewed a few
OF the pictures in the domestic, social and
intellectual lives OF these truly distinc-
I've, but very interesting and not uncult-
ured people.
Hundreds OF canal boats, running not
alone on the waters OF the Eric, but north
through Lake Champlain and SO on
through various waters TO the beautiful
city cf Ottawa, ar tied up during the
winter months In New York and Brook
lyn. The children in this small and scat
tered city of boats attend the public
schools Of the two cities. In some cases
the parents send them to private schools
and not seldom to college afterward,
whore they arc fitted to degree for hon
ored places among Their follows
1t was in order to see these people In
their floating homes that the reporter
visited mum bcr of the boats. Tho visits
brought to him lc isoa in contentme ent
in helpfulnes3 and in true Christian char.
ity that dozen wordy sermons could not
impart In the homes Of the richer canal
ers and in the poorer boats he foand the
same spirit Of thrift and providence for
old age. In many cases the boatmen and
their families were members and regular
atteudal ITS at some place Of worship.
The sounds of an organ evolving one Of
Roody an 4 Sankey's song tunes foated up
from the cabin Of the first boat that was
boarded. A curious apartment was this
same cabin. Lace curtains half hfd the
windows. The half-opon door disclose
scene such as might bc seen In an old
Kentucky homestead. miss OF twelve
summers. or more, was seated at the or
gan In ono corner of the room, which
served at once the purpose of parlor,
kitchen and dining-room. The floor Of the
unique apartment was covered with
homemade carpet, and bright -colorcd
small bookcase upon one of the walls was
filled with books on a variety OF useful
subjects. A handsome ash dining tabse
stood near the case. Portraits (of the
family, apparently hung in small frames
upon the other wall, the attempt at orna-
mentation always due TO a wcman's heart
Not the smallest attrG ction in this picture
was laughing, Growing infant in crib
Of curious workmanship that swung In
the corner Ike hammock
middle-aged matron was industriously
knitting on splint back rocker, and o
younger woman sat near the cradle. A
man OF some fifty years had been reading
book, but he threw it aside TO listen tc
the song the young miss at the organ be-
gan TO pour forth in a girlish soprano
The baby. too, evidently enjoyed it. FOR
he clapped his hands and chnckied, while
his face twisted itself into thousand
dimDics- intended for q emile Not pntli